Marie Emmanuelle Chessel

Marie-Emmanuelle Chessel’s research focuses on the economic and social history of contemporary France, with special attention to transnational circulations. She works on several research topics.

The first of these is consumer society. Her work centers on the different actors who aid in constructing this milieu: experts in market development (advertisers and marketers), activists in consumer organizations, etc. She has conducted individual and collaborative research on advertising, the relationship between consumption and policy, and the history of activist consumption.
Her second main research topic is the business world and employers , in their relationship with society at large. In this vein, she notably conducted research on the history of management teaching in France. She coordinates a collective survey at the EHESS on the history of the Centre Français du Patronat Chrétien (CFPC) [French National Council of Christian Employers], since become the Entrepreneurs et Dirigeants Chrétiens (EDC) [Christian Entrepreneurs and Managers] in 2000, which will soon be published in book form. Her work has led her to concentrate more intensely on Christian actors in the realm of consumption – in particular, on the role of religion in the “reform” of the economy, in women’s and men’s organizations, and on the practices of social surveys in Christian circles.

Marie-Emmanuelle Chessel has published Consommateurs engagés à la Belle Epoque. La Ligue sociale d’acheteursActivist Consumers during the Belle Epoque: The Social Buyers ‘League and Histoire de la consommationThe History of Consumption.

Teaching Activities

Since 2016:
“The History of Surveys: Consumption and Work in the 19th and 20th centuries” Master 1 workshop within the History Department at Sciences Po, with Gwenaële Rot

Since 2006:
Co-organization of the collective seminar of the ESOPP research group [Social and Political Studies on Populations, Social Protection, and Health] at the EHESS and Sciences Po. First, “L’auto-fabrication des sociétés : population, politiques sociales, santé” [The Self-Construction of Societies: Population, Social Policy, and Health] (2006-2015], then “Mesurer la valeur humaine. Histoire, sciences de la vie, sciences sociales” Measuring Human Value: History, Life Sciences, and Social Sciences

2008-2010:
Co-organization of a weekly research seminar at the EHESS, entitled “Gender and Social Reform” (with Christophe Capuano and Laura Lee Downs)

2008-2009:
Co-organization of a monthly seminar at the EHESS, entitled “The Use of Gender in History” (with Magali della Sudda, Laura L. Downs, Arlette Farge, and Alessandro Stella)

Other Activities

Partner at the French National Research Agency’s “Eurasemploi. Croissance et formes d''emploi. Une comparaison eurasiatique de l''incertitude au travail” Eurasemploi Project – Growth and Forms of Employment: An Euro-Asiatic Comparison of Uncertainty at Work, directed by Bernard Thomann (Inalco)

Member of the scientific and editorial boards of Le Mouvement Social
Member of the Entreprises et histoire editorial board

Prizes
CNRS Silver Medal (2014)

Education

2009
Habilitation to supervise research in History from the EHESS
1996
Doctorate in History and Civilizations from the European University Institute of Florence (Italy)
1992
Master’s degree in History from Lyon 2 University
1990
Bachelor’s degree from the Institut d''Etudes Politiques [Political Studies Institute] Lyon